Lighting of the Quad
A couple of quick news items to start the day:
Students who have not yet submitted documentation for their required flu vaccine were sent a message today reminding them that the deadline is December 15th. We really want to have students get their vaccine info in before finals begin on the 6th, because we know they don’t want to get a lot of reminders during finals week. So if you are not sure if your Deac has complied, please urge them to get their flu shot as soon as they can (they can make an appointment at Student Health Service, or go to CVS or Walgreens, etc.)
I also wanted to remind families with students living in University-sponsored housing at Deacon Station or Crowne apartments of this important information: students living in University-sponsored housing have the option to retain access to their housing for the Winter Break period (December 12 to January 8) for an additional charge, as that time period is outside of their housing contract. For students who do not wish to retain access over the break, they will need to return their keys by 2 pm on December 12th and can move back in January 8th when University housing reopens. See details.
And now, a bit of fun!
The Lighting of the Quad was last night. I was not able to be there, but we had lots of great photos taken of the event (double bonus points to the young woman in the Bob Ross holiday sweater!)
The Lighting of the Quad is a great example of the fact that an antidote to end of the semester/pre-finals stress is getting out of your room and enjoying things in community. It sounds counterproductive (I could/should be studying right now!), but enjoying some holiday spirit, the Late Night Breakfast tonight, the Secrest Artists Series on Thursday, and/or the ACC Championship on Saturday can give your Deac’s spirits a boost. Being together with others and enjoying a communal activity helps bond students to each other and helps create wonderful memories.
As with everything else, balance is the key. The important part for students is to plan ahead – they know they will need an appropriate amount of study time, some fun time, enough sleep, etc. – and every student will have their own calculus as to what that right balance will be for them. The good news is, they have been making these kinds of time management/social activity decisions all semester/all their years at Wake, so knowing how to balance their time is not a new skill students have to learn this week.
Parents and families, you might be their safe place to vent their stress – and if you get that Frantic Phone Call/Text/Facetime, one of the best things you can do is tell your student “you got this!” “I trust you,” “you can do hard things,” “I know you will make wise choices,” etc. It’s important for your student’s growth and independence to let them figure out the right path for them.
